CVE-2026-27009: Openclaw Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2026-27009 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.8) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Openclaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openclaw affected by stored xss in control ui via unsanitized assistant name/avatar in inline script injection. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.15.
CVE-2026-27009 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 5.8
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2026-27009
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Openclaw dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
npm install openclaw@2026.2.15
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls openclaw
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-27009, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls openclaw
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Openclaw in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2026.2.15), your application is affected.
Note: The npm ls openclaw command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Openclaw, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2026-27009 Affected Openclaw Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
openclaw
|
npm |
< 2026.2.15
|
2026.2.15
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-27009?
Which Openclaw versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-27009?
Is openclaw affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-27009?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-27009?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-27009?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-37gc-85xm-2ww6",
"modified" : "2026-02-20T16:47:40Z",
"published" : "2026-02-18T22:44:33Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-27009" ],
"summary" : "OpenClaw affected by Stored XSS in Control UI via unsanitized assistant name/avatar in inline script injection",
"details" : "## Summary\nStored XSS in the OpenClaw Control UI when rendering assistant identity (name/avatar) into an inline `<script>` tag without script-context-safe escaping. A crafted value containing `</script>` could break out of the script tag and execute attacker-controlled JavaScript in the Control UI origin.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected versions: `<= 2026.2.14`\n- Fixed in: `>= 2026.2.15` (next release; fix is already merged on `main`)\n\n## Details\nThe gateway Control UI HTML response previously injected `assistantName` and `assistantAvatar` directly into an inline `<script>` block using `JSON.stringify(...)`. `JSON.stringify` does not prevent `</script>` from terminating the script element, enabling stored XSS if an operator/admin sets the assistant identity to a malicious string.\n\nOpenClaw’s Control UI is intended for local use only (see `SECURITY.md`); this advisory’s CVSS reflects a loopback-only/local-access deployment assumption.\n\n## Impact\nAn attacker with the ability to set assistant identity values (config or agent identity) could cause JavaScript execution for Control UI visitors, enabling token/session theft and privileged actions in the UI.\n\n## Fix\n- Removed inline script injection and serve bootstrap config from a JSON endpoint.\n- Added a restrictive Content Security Policy for the Control UI (`script-src 'self'`, no inline scripts).\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n- `adc818db4a4b3b8d663e7674ef20436947514e1b`\n- `3b4096e02e7e335f99f5986ec1bd566e90b14a7e`\n\n## Release Process Note\nThis advisory pre-sets the patched version to the planned next release (`2026.2.15`). Once that version is published to npm, this advisory can be published without further edits.\n\nThanks @Adam55A-code for reporting.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "openclaw"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2026.2.15"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-37gc-85xm-2ww6"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27009"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/3b4096e02e7e335f99f5986ec1bd566e90b14a7e"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/adc818db4a4b3b8d663e7674ef20436947514e1b"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.2.15"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-02-18T22:44:33Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-02-20T00:16:17Z"
}
}